The American Film Institute (AFI) curated a list of the 50 greatest heroes and 50 greatest villains in American cinema. The AFI lists were compiled by a group of jurors who considered several factors including the length and nature of the film, the character's qualities, and their cultural impact. The AFI 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains special originally aired in 2003 and provided viewers with a brief overview of the list's most iconic heroes and villains.